Fear
Who’s Report Will You Believe?
I’m not sure how many of you frequent Facebook but I would guess that many of you do. One of the things that most often frustrates me about the postings there are the ones that sound something like…. “Ten reasons why youth are leaving your church”, or “Why everybody hates church music,” or “64 reasons American Churches are Dying.” I just don’t get it! First, what makes the people who write these things experts on the church in America, and how were they able to sample a sufficient number of churches to make such all-inclusive remarks? No one has ever visited our church to assess its health and I’ve never gotten a call asking me about how our youth or music ministry is going.
In truth, this feels more like an attempt to shape the narrative in our country in regard to the church. Surely we’ve learned by now that one of the ploys of those opposed to a thing is to simply begin reporting on it’s demise and before long people believe it’s dead and actual death soon follows. My personal experience today is that the truth is far from these reports.
I’ve got many pastor friends that are reporting great advancement of their churches. Here at Abundant Life we are experiencing growth and advancement across the board and we are expecting more and more. Walls that have kept people apart for generations are being torn down and in almost every area of ministry we are experiencing an abundance of life! You can feel that what historically has been called revival is coming to the river bend and young and old alike are drawing closer and closer to God. We’re coming off of one of our greatest financial years in the history of the church and we are touching not only our region but all over the world!
In short… Who’s report will you believe? Those who would report the church’s demise are simply not telling the truth or any semblance of the truth. God is growing his church and just as always… Nothing will prevail against it!
Blessings!
What Draws You Closer to God?
What draws you closer to God? I was working on a few chores around my place this past weekend and as I was working, my mind was dwelling on a difficult situation from the past. I had heard a comment earlier that day that reminded me of a very difficult leadership situation that I had dealt with some years ago. It was a great season of learning and faith development and as usual for me, the catalyst for that growth had been fear. As my mind reflected back on this time it dawned on me how often it takes fear to move me closer to the Lord. Frankly, I want something better. How about you?
In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read
…“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (ESV)
Said more simply, the spirit that God gives us doesn’t make us afraid. Rather, this spirit convinces us of the power that we have in and through him, confirms and demonstrates his love for us, and enables us to control ourselves. His Spirit does not reduce us in any way but rather builds us up.
God’s desire IS that we would be in close relationship with him, and I believe that he WILL allow fear to drive us into him, but that isn’t his best plan, just the one that we leave him with after we’ve been too busy for his kindness, gentleness, and the still small voice that invites us into his presence. It’s as we disassociate with the Holy Spirit’s voice and the Word that our merciful Father, who knows we are ill equipped to face this world without his presence, allows circumstances or thoughts to cause us fear and thereby moves us close to him once again.
Think about how full the churches were immediately following September 11, 2001. People were afraid and turned to God for solace and hope. Wouldn’t it be much better if through devotion and discipline we kept ourselves closely attuned with the Holy Spirit’s voice and in regular times of reverence and worship our faith grew and grew. That love and revelation would be the context of our growth rather than fear.
Today, I’m committed to the pursuit of His presence motivated not by fear, but by a genuine desire to know him more fully and to walk from sunrise to sunset with a profound sense of his presence.
Blessings!